DARLINGTON - The rubber match between Darlington and Mineral Point was all Redbirds as they knocked off the Pointers 45-34 to win a WIAA Division 4 regional championship Saturday.
Darlington seniors Abigail Merriam and Claire Scott each scored a team-high 13 points. The 13 points were a career-high for Merriam.
"She has really come on the last couple of games," Darlington coach Riley Fitzsimons said. "I knew she had it in her. It was just her night."
With the win, Darlington (18-6) advances to the sectional semifinal where the Redbirds will play No. 1 ranked Cuba City at 7 p.m. Wednesday in Monroe.
The Redbirds outscored the Pointers 12-7 in the second quarter to take a seven-point lead at the half. The Redbirds sealed the win by outscoring the Pointers 12-6 in the fourth quarter. Darlington senior Cassidy Chambers added 10 points.
"Ever since we got beat by Cuba City for the second time, our goal was to get a No. 2 seed and get to a sectional against Cuba City," the coach said.
Fitzsimons said the key to beating Cuba City was pressuring the ball, but not taking unnecessary risks, rebounding and get hands up in the face of shooters.
"We did all of that well," Fitzsimons said.
Fitzsimons is well aware of the challenge that awaits against Cuba City.
"I know they will come out in their signature 1-3-1 halfcourt trap," he said. "It will be handling the ball and that pressure. If we can do that, I think we will be all right."
Barneveld 55, Black Hawk 38
BARNEVELD - For three quarters, the Black Hawk girls basketball team played toe-to-toe with No. 2 ranked Barneveld Saturday.
The Golden Eagles (24-1) outscored the Warriors 12-6 in the second quarter to take a 17-9 lead at the half. The Warriors trailed by just eight points entering the fourth quarter. The Eagles pulled away outscoring the Warriors 28-19 in the fourth quarter.
"You don't take moral victories," Black Hawk coach Mike Flanagan said. "It was good to know that they were in a ballgame in the regional final. It wasn't that way the first two games we played."
Barneveld entered the regional title game with an average margin of victory of 30 points in Six Rivers East Conference games. Black Hawk had lost two previous games to Barneveld 73-28 and 69-33.
"We slowed the game down and tried to make it a low possession game," Flanagan said. "We were optimistic going into halftime. In the fourth quarter, they made a couple of baskets to extend their lead and we had to start fouling."
The Eagles made 10 of 13 free throws in the fourth quarter to seal the win. Black Hawk junior Jen Wellnitz scored a game-high 25 points and Tatum Jackson added five points.
Barneveld had four players in double figures led by McKenzie Sporle and Maggie Oimoen with 12 points each. Hannah Whitish and Madison Laube each added 11 points and Rachel Slaney chipped in nine.
"They have a lot of balance," Flanagan said. "It just goes to show you how hard they are to beat."
The Warriors played without junior Mikayla Sigafus who missed the game due to pneumonia, Flanagan said.
Black Hawk will have every player back next year except senior Abby Schiferl.
"We are optimistic about next season," Flanagan said. "It's a lot of 'ifs' right now. I think if the kids want it, if they make the commitment with their individual opportunities and get motivated, we have a chance to be a pretty decent team next season. I know Barneveld and the other teams in the conference won't get worse. You are either getting better or worse. Everyone is out there fighting to get better."
Darlington seniors Abigail Merriam and Claire Scott each scored a team-high 13 points. The 13 points were a career-high for Merriam.
"She has really come on the last couple of games," Darlington coach Riley Fitzsimons said. "I knew she had it in her. It was just her night."
With the win, Darlington (18-6) advances to the sectional semifinal where the Redbirds will play No. 1 ranked Cuba City at 7 p.m. Wednesday in Monroe.
The Redbirds outscored the Pointers 12-7 in the second quarter to take a seven-point lead at the half. The Redbirds sealed the win by outscoring the Pointers 12-6 in the fourth quarter. Darlington senior Cassidy Chambers added 10 points.
"Ever since we got beat by Cuba City for the second time, our goal was to get a No. 2 seed and get to a sectional against Cuba City," the coach said.
Fitzsimons said the key to beating Cuba City was pressuring the ball, but not taking unnecessary risks, rebounding and get hands up in the face of shooters.
"We did all of that well," Fitzsimons said.
Fitzsimons is well aware of the challenge that awaits against Cuba City.
"I know they will come out in their signature 1-3-1 halfcourt trap," he said. "It will be handling the ball and that pressure. If we can do that, I think we will be all right."
Barneveld 55, Black Hawk 38
BARNEVELD - For three quarters, the Black Hawk girls basketball team played toe-to-toe with No. 2 ranked Barneveld Saturday.
The Golden Eagles (24-1) outscored the Warriors 12-6 in the second quarter to take a 17-9 lead at the half. The Warriors trailed by just eight points entering the fourth quarter. The Eagles pulled away outscoring the Warriors 28-19 in the fourth quarter.
"You don't take moral victories," Black Hawk coach Mike Flanagan said. "It was good to know that they were in a ballgame in the regional final. It wasn't that way the first two games we played."
Barneveld entered the regional title game with an average margin of victory of 30 points in Six Rivers East Conference games. Black Hawk had lost two previous games to Barneveld 73-28 and 69-33.
"We slowed the game down and tried to make it a low possession game," Flanagan said. "We were optimistic going into halftime. In the fourth quarter, they made a couple of baskets to extend their lead and we had to start fouling."
The Eagles made 10 of 13 free throws in the fourth quarter to seal the win. Black Hawk junior Jen Wellnitz scored a game-high 25 points and Tatum Jackson added five points.
Barneveld had four players in double figures led by McKenzie Sporle and Maggie Oimoen with 12 points each. Hannah Whitish and Madison Laube each added 11 points and Rachel Slaney chipped in nine.
"They have a lot of balance," Flanagan said. "It just goes to show you how hard they are to beat."
The Warriors played without junior Mikayla Sigafus who missed the game due to pneumonia, Flanagan said.
Black Hawk will have every player back next year except senior Abby Schiferl.
"We are optimistic about next season," Flanagan said. "It's a lot of 'ifs' right now. I think if the kids want it, if they make the commitment with their individual opportunities and get motivated, we have a chance to be a pretty decent team next season. I know Barneveld and the other teams in the conference won't get worse. You are either getting better or worse. Everyone is out there fighting to get better."
